Thursday, January 22, 2009

Fred Dicker: It's Still A Mystery Why Caroline Kennedy Dropped Out



(image via newsbusters)

Fred Dicker of the New York Post, the undisputed King of the Albany press, had a lot to say on ABC Radio's Morning Joe program on the Caroline Kennedy chaos. "(Indications were made that Kennedy) was being told that she was no longer a certain selection," said Dicker. "... She made a decision (to pull out) ... she delivered a terse (note) ... she didn't thank the governor, she didn't mention that she enjoyed the process ."

"I staked out her house for a little while and she wasn't there," said Dicker of his reporting. "She just up and kind of vanished." Dicker also said that no one he talked to knew where Caroline Kennedy was.

"Patterson contributed to (the chaos surrounding the nomination) .. the general sense is that Governor Patterson, who was not elected ... is overwhelmed, he's legally blind ... in the view of a great many people, Patterson strung this out because he was enjoying the attention," added the veteran reporter.

"Bottom line here is that the Governor ... wants to get reelected on his own ... he may have regarded Caroline Kennedy as a negative ... she may have gotten cold feet and didn't want to get embarrassed."

"Andrew Cuomo is regarded by the public as the front runner .. It's either going to be he, or Caroline Maloney, Kirsten Gillibrand ... Tom Suozzi (Nassau Country Executive, a favorite of the Governor) ... we should know by Saturday."

Andrew Cuomo, who is widely seen as competition for Patterson is reelection, might be the logical pick. Getting him out of the way helps. Also: Cuomo's got the name, the prestige, the ability to get elected statewide and all those things might trump (in the voters' minds) the expectations of the various competing minority groups and upstaters who believe that Hillary Clinton's Senate seat should go their way.

But this blog is pro-Gillibrand!

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